Snap-hook



(No Model.)

G. A. SHAMBERGER.

SNAP HOOK.

- No. 347,965. Patented Aug. 24, 1886.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: IQJLW BY 615 Mi 46m ATTORNEYS.

' N. PETERS. Phulo-lihngraphar, Wnhingh-m. no.

NITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,965, dated August 24, 1886.-

Application tiled May 18,'1 S86. Serial No. 202,540. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ADAMS SHAM- BERGER, of Mound City, in the county of Holt and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Snap Hooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Myinvention relates to a new and improved construction of snap-hook,whereby a de iceis produced that, in addition to the spring action of the ordinary snap-hook, possesses a locking action. In my hook the tongue cannot be pressed open except by the action of the operator, its tongue, When left free, immediately seating itself and becoming locked in the de' sired position. Thus the tongue is held positively in place, not by a spring only. The hook,therefore,does not depend for its security on a spring subject to inevitable deterioration in elasticity. Furthermore,thefingerorthumb piece, by pressing which the tongue is thrown open, is conveniently situated in a recess on the back of the hook, so as to be protected from all danger of fracture or accidental opening. A single spring is used to throw the locking-pawl into place, and the opening or throwing back of the tongue is effected by a positive mechanical action.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a sectional view, and Fig. 2 a general elevation, of my improved snap-hook. i

A denotes the body or case of a snap hook, in whose base is a recess or cavity, B, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. One end of the body forms a hook, F. The other end may terminate in a ring, G. A vibrating or pivoted tongue,C,isprovided,that swings upon a pivot, a. When swung outward so as to assume the position shown in Fig. 1, it closes the opening of the hook, so that a ring or other object held by it cannot escape. When swung back, as shown in Fig. 2, it leaves a wide opening for the introduction into or withdrawal from the hook of any object. The back of the tongue contains a notch, av. An arm, 0, adapted to bear against the face of the pawl D, extends below the pivot a. The locking-pawl D is pivoted at b. One arm, y, is of such shape as to enter and engage with the notchm in theforward position of the tongue. The other arm, (1, is adapted to act as a thumb or push piece. A spring, E, bears againstthispawl, as shown, pressing the arm y constantly forward toward the locking position, and with it the tongue 0, thus tending to close the opening and cause the pawl and tongue to interlock by means of the notch x. The curved arm 0 of the tongue 3 and the face of the pawl D are so adjusted that they are nearly or quite in contact through all movements of the tongue and pawl. If it is desired to open the hook, the arm (I of the pawl is pressed inward. This draws back the end y of the pawl D from and out of the notch 00 of the tongue 0, thereby releasing the latter. The arm 0 of the tongue is by the same action pressed forward and the tongue withdrawn from the opening of the hook F. The closing is automatic. On releasing the thumb piece (Z, the spring E forces the arm y and tongue O forward until the 'pawl enters the notch 00 as the tongue seats itself in and closes the opening of'the hook F. Thus it will be seen that a single spring actuates both pawl and tongue in the closing and locking movement, andthat the hook, when once closed, cannotbe opened by any pressure on thetougue, the only opening movement possible being a positive one by the hand of the operator. The closing of the hook does not depend ona spring alone for its security, but is also positive and secure.

'Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a snap-hook, the swinging tongue 0, with notch 00 and arm '0, in combination with a pawl, D, substantially as shown and de scribed.

2. In a snap-hook, the tongue 0, with notch 00 and arm a, in combination with the lockingpawl D, provided with thumbpiece d, and actuated by the spring E, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE A. SHAMBERGER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. BownRs, J ACOB SILvUsE. 

